Pegun
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Pegun (1 B.C.E. - 66 C.E.), a.k.a. Perumpeyar Paegan ruled the Waiyaavi country of old Tamil land , from 31 C.E. to 66 C.E. He was hailed as "Perunceyal Paegan" or the Magnanimous. He was the son of Venvael Pegun and the grandson of Kadumaan Pegun . Wayangumaan and Thazhumban were his sons. He was a contemporary and a great friend of the Chola emperor, Karikala II.
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[edit] Aavi's and the Wai Aavi country
Ancient Tamil kings considered themselves descendants of Kaalaiyadigal("the saint bull ") or Nanthi ("our vehicle" - vehicle of Siva and family) -the first disciple of God Siva. Kings called themselves Aathan (of Naancil, Cheras, Oymaan and Vengadam) , Aathi (of Cholas), Aavi(of Waiyaavi and Vaelaavi) and Aai (of Pothigai and Pandyas) meaning "of the bull" and "the rearers and feeders of their people". The Aavi clan were an ancient offshoot of the Cholas. The west(Waiyaavis) and the east Aavi(Vaelaavis) dynasties divided and ruled the land between River Krishna and River Palaaru between them. The west land was plateau and mountaineous while the east had plains. Accordingly the people were called the mazhavar and the vaelir of Aavis respectively.
Wai Aavi (a.k.a. Payala Nadu) or the west Aavi country extended from River Krishna in the north to River Palaaru in the south, and was bounded by Kadamba kingdom on the west and by the smaller principalities of Pulli, Vellimalai and Nallamalai on the east. The Satavahanas and the Athiya Nadu formed their northern and southern boundaries. It included the present districts of Tumkur East, Kolar and East Bangalore of Karnataka, North Krishnagiri of Tamil Nadu and West Chittoor, Anantapur, Kurnool and Mahbubnagar of Andhra Pradesh. The country was a rugged plateau, often referred to as "Perunkal Naadu" and Kathiri was its ancient capital while Seerrur, Paagal, Palloor, Paayal kottai and Pangaloor were important towns and forts of the country.
[edit] Birth and early life
Perumpeyar Pegun was born at Paerigai in the present Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu. His early life was spent mostly in the Sitthar monastery of Thiruvennkaadu, near Pugaar which was his maternal hometown. His mother was a daughter of a Chola noble and his wife was Kannagi, from another Chola noble family. The Peguns of Wai Aavi had been having marital relations with the Chola royal and noble families for many generations then. He was an ardent devotee of the god Siva and grew up as an expert in Tamil martial arts and was also proficient in classical Tamil language. Legend says he was on the divine path to salvation when at the age of 30, was called to take to the throne at Venvael Pegun's demise.
[edit] Administration
Perumpeyar Pegun was righteous and austere, and ruled the country in peace and prosperity for most part of his reign. He is said to have built a palace made of gold at Paerigai. He was so fond of Tamil poets and scholars that he placed them with their family in his golden palace. He was one of the seven great bestowers of the last Sangam age. He is known for his generosity and kindheartedness throughout the ancient Tamil land. He was claimed as "the law giver" of the land. The smaller kingdoms of Pulli, Vellimalai, Nallamalai, and Oonoor accepted his overlordship, while he himself remained loyal to the Karikala II the Chola king.
[edit] "The Magnanimous"
He was hailed for the ever wealthy state of his people in the Sangam Literature. Nobody who visited him left empty handed. He patronised the Tamil scholars in a grand way that they never had to visit another king in their lifetime. Legend says that once he saw a shivering peacock on a cold winter and promptly wrapped his silk shawl around it.
He was said to have gifted vast areas of land to the poor farmers, poets and to his loyal generals, whom he encouraged to set up their own governance and dynasties in the presented land. To the north, he granted independence to the Kosar tribes when they showed their loyalty to him in a battle with the Kadambas.
He was a secular king and renovated the famous Jain temple "Siraavana Vellakkoil " (Sravana Belagola) in 64 C.E. and also granted the land for expanding the Jain monastery at Pangana palli. He built the city of Paangaloor near Siraavana Vellakkoil in 55 C.E.
Once a Satavahanas general and a Vaelaavi prince came to him disguising as poors and asked him to grant them all the land between River Krishna and Nallamalai. Quickly identifying them the king agreed to the wishes though doing so would mean giving the land to the rival kings. The two Vengis, the Satavahanas and Vaelaavis were long eyeing on those fertile lands. Both had made a few failed attempts to invade the north West Aavi. But now the visitors were very happy that the king agreed to them immediately without any hesitation. But the king said that the land will be divided into two and the old farmer (the minister of Vengi) should take the western part and the younger farmer (the Satavahana general) should take the eastern part and concluded saying that because there were clashes between the native Kosar tribes of the said land neither of the two farmers should cross over the boundary in between the two parts. They returned to their respective lands satisfied, only to find that they had been tricked by the wiser king in that they had been allotted opposite parts of the land - the eastern Vaelaavis got the land on the far west and could not cross over to it and vice versa for the Satavahanas of the west. Not able to bring their armies into their allotted land, both had to give up their claim and return ashamed back to their Vengi countries.
Pegun died after a brief illness in 66 C.E. Legend says that it concurred with the occurrence of a bright comet in the sky, probably Halley's comet. Comets were believed to occur to accompany a good life to the heavens. He was succeeded by Wayangumaan Pegun.
| Preceded by Venvael Paegan |
Wai Aavi king 30 C.E.–66 C.E |
Succeeded by Wayangumaan Paegan |
